Skip to main content

Check this deep and controversial article about God and Ebola

UK Guardian columnist Michelle Hanson wrote this article that has sparked quite a debate on social
media about God and why He saved an American doctor and let 1,200 Africans die of the Ebola virus. The writer, who said she gave up on God many years ago, wondered how God works. Find the article below...

"Lucky Dr Kent Brantly, the American doctor who has recovered from Ebola, having been given a dose of the experimental antibody serum Zmapp, whizzed home to the US, and given another dose. He is now thanking God for saving his life. Through the medical team and drugs, he admits, but ultimately, it seems, God was in charge. And he chose Brantly, not the other 1,200 mainly west African people who have died horribly, which seems a bit picky."

It must be lovely for Brantly to be so sure of things. I tried, aged 10, to work out whether God was around or not, but couldn't. "What was his actual shape?" I wondered. And how could he be everywhere, all at once? How big, for example, was his toenail? Did it cover Ruislip, where I lived? I imagined him constantly on the go, distant enough for an effective overview and able to home in on catastrophes and act. But it was very hit and miss. Would he be on the spot when you needed him, like Brantly did? On and on I went for years, trying to believe in him. I even went camping with a tremendously religious youth organisation, but despite the prayers and observances, even the devout did some frightfully rude things in their tents. And there was no divine retribution. I gave up on God, for ever.
Millions didn't. They seem to be obeying his instructions to the letter, which isn't doing the world any favours. But at last, a bit of good news. The Jehovah's Witnesses are mellowing. They have a new tactic. Instead of just knocking on doors, they're also allowed to stand beside their literature, smiling, near shops and stations, letting us approach voluntarily. Marvelous. It's a shame they didn't do this years ago, when my old friend was a Jehovah's Witness. She was terrified sick of being sent to knock on our door. Luckily it never happened.
If only all religions would take this hands-off approach and let us all believe whatever we like. No pressure. I hope that one day, that will happen. I would say "Please, God," but I can't.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Enjoy the use of Condom this Valentine. Thailand tells citizens

Valentine is fast approaching and the Government of Thailand have decided to launch a campaign to  help its citizens that are too shy to buy condoms. They will therefore distribute condoms in large quantities to the citizens in a campaign tagged "Condoms for Confidence". According to Thongchai Lertwilairattanapong of the Ministry of Public Health, ‎" ‎This valentine, there is a high  tendency of people, most especially youths getting involved in unprotected sex". "Teenagers, especially, do not have to be embarrassed about buying condoms. The ‎s ociety also have to accept that teenage girls buy condoms, which is better than more teenage girls getting pregnant.  We have to persuade Thais to accept condoms as a hygiene item in everyday life to protect against pregnancy and AIDS".

Mechanic kills friend for urinating near his shop

Tragedy struck the park of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners in the Berger, Mile 2 area of Lagos as a a mechanic, identified only as Oshare, reportedly stabbed his friend to death and injured several others. Rasta, Oshare's friend allegedly urinated beside a stationary truck. Oshare, reportedly challenged the deceased for messing up the spot, said to be a few steps from his shop. As Rasta tried to calm him, he reportedly slapped him, which led to a fight. The mechanic, who got so angry grabbed two bottles and stabbed the friend in the neck. He was also said to have injured some people who attempted to caution him. Rasta reportedly bled from his injuries and he was rushed to a hospital for treatment. He, however, died before he could get help. An eyewitness said "Both of them are mechanics and friends. He confronted Rasta for urinating near his shop and it led to a fight. Oshare rushed to my shop with two bottles in his hands, asking me to give him a knife....

Cell-Associated HIV Transmission Contributes To HIV Epidemic

Dr. Deborah Anderson from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and her colleagues are challenging dogma about the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Most research has focused on infection by free viral particles, while this group proposes that HIV is also transmitted by infected cells. While inside cells, HIV is protected from antibodies and other antiviral factors, and cell-to-cell virus transmission occurs very efficiently through intercellular synapses. The Journal of Infectious Diseases (JID) has devoted their December supplement to this important and understudied topic. The 10 articles, four from researchers at BUSM, present the case for cell-associated HIV transmission as an important element contributing to the HIV epidemic. Anderson chides fellow researchers for not using cell-associated HIV in their transmission models: "The failure of several recent vaccine and microbicide clinical trials to prevent HIV transmission may be due in p...